Shaving apparatus



July 2 1965 A. J. FOLEY .ETAL

SHAVING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 27, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l TORS.

A I 1$- 2? g; X 2008 3 5'2 I I I F [7 AAA their ATTORNEYS July 27, 1965 A. J. FOLEY ETAL SHAVING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2'7, 1962 INVENTORS. ARTHUR J. FOLEY 8| BY CLIFFORD THOMAS FOLEY M;@,M

July 27, 1965 A. J. FOLEY ETAL. 3,196,541

SHAVING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 27;, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I06 07 FF INVENTORS.

ARTHUR J. FOLEY 8| CLIFFORD THOMAS FOLEY FIGT7MY74IAIZ F'EM their A 7' 7' ORA/E KS July 27, 1965 A. J. FOLEY ETAL SHAVING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 27, 1962 fling.

' their ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,196,541 SHAVING APPARATUS Arthur .I. Foley and Clifiord Thomas Foley, both of Portland, Conn. Filed Dec. 27, 1962, er. No. 247,692 4 Claims. (til. Edi-43.6)

This invention relates in general to an electric motor and, more particularly, to a battery-energized apparatus which produces a reciprocating motion along a linear path.

The invention also discloses a particular use for this battery-powered reciprocating device in the form of a handy pocket electric shaver. The invention further encompasses a unique blade formation and arrangement which provides for a great increase in the number of 7 connecting the second solenoid with the battery are placed adjacent the first solenoid near the surface facing the second solenoid. A contact arm is mounted about the central section of the bar, between the solenoids, and is fastened so as to move reciprocally with the bar. Thus when the bar is displaced a specific distance toward the second solenoid, the contact arm bridges the first circuit terminals energizing the first solenoid and developing a magnetic field which draws the bar toward the first solenoid. As the bar starts its movement away from the second solenoid, the first circuit is once again opened and the first solenoid de-energized. The inertia of the bar, however, continues to carry it forward until the centrally disposed contact arm engages the two terminals of the second circuit adjacent the first solenoid. At this point the second solenoid is energized and the bar responds to its magnetic field moving in its direction. This movement toward the second solenoid breaks the second circuit but not before the bar attains a momentum sufficient to carry it to the terminals of the first circuit. In this manner a continual reciprocating linear motion is produced which may be applied and used in any number of devices.

' One such application of this electric motor is disclosed herein and consists of a pocket, battery-operated, electric shaver which reciprocally moves a plurality of specially I designed blades adjacent a second set of mating blades.

One blade from each set combines to form a pair of blades which cooperate with each other and with adjacent pairs of blades to produce for the first time a plurality of acute cutting angles along the length of each blade.

Each blade Whether movable or not is generally triangular in shape having a deep notch in its base. The two blades forming a particular pair are placed in an inverted position so that the apex of one blade crosses the notch in the base of its mating blade. In this manner at least four acute cutting angules are formed. Furthermore, when two rows of alternately inverted blades are positioned adjacent to each other, a plurality of inverted pairs, as described above, are formed. In this arrangement each blade in one of the sets closes three acute cutting angles as the blades are moved in one direction and closes three separate cutting angles as the blades move in the opposite direction.

With this device it is now possible to shave a particular surface area ina very efiicient manner, using short quick strokes with a finely honed blade. The speed of the shaving operation is greatly increased by the fact that three acute cutting angles are closing at the same time whereas in older devices only one cutting angle is closing at any particular moment.

It is an important advantage of this blade arrangement that the two cutting edges which meet when severing the strands of material placed therebetween, are crossing in a scissoring action and gradually closing the acute angle which they make with each other. In some prior shavers the two cutting edges meet head-on, severing the hair caught therebetween on impact. Over a period of time, the resistance of especially coarse hair severed in this manner tends to dull the cutting edges of these opposed blades. In the arrangement herein disclosed, the hair engaged by the cutting edges is free to yield in one direction thereby allowing the hair to be severed gradually as the cutting edges slide into its cross section. Thus due to this scissoring action the impact between the hair and the blades disclosed herein is greatly reduced and the blades will maintain their sharpness over a longer period of time.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a cross sectional view of the electric motor portion of this invention without its battery source;

FIGURE 2 shows a cross sectional end view taken along lines 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 shows a cross sectional end view taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 shows a circuit diagram of the electric motor;

FIGURE 5 shows an isometric view of the pocket shaver disclosed in this invention;

FIGURE 6 shows a top view of the pocket shaver;

FIGURE 7 shows a cross sectional elevation of the pocket shaver;

FIGURE 8 shows a cross sectional end view of the pocket shaver taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 shows a detailed isometric view of the pair of blades disclosed in this invention; and

FIGURE 10 shows a cut-away detailed top view of two sets of blades mounted in cutting relationship.

With reference to the drawing the electric motor, as shown in FIG. 1, is indicated generally by the reference character It) and is composd of a bar 11 which has two permanently magnetized sections 12 and 13 surrounded by non-magnetized sections 14, 15 and 16. Left solenoid 17 and right solenoid 18 are spaced from each other and positioned coaxially around the bar 11 in such a manner that the bar is allowed to pass freely through the center of the coils. The magnetized portions 12 and 13 are spaced from each other by a distance which is less than the distance between the spaced solenoids 17 and 18. As a result when magnetized portion 12 is positioned within right solenoid 18, the magnetized portion 13 is displaced toward the area between the coils as shown in FIG. 1. The reverse is also true, for when magnetized portion 13 is positioned Within left solenoid 17, the right magnetized portion 12 is displaced toward the area between both of the coils.

The central non-magnetized portion 14 of bar 11 rigidly supports contact arm 19, the arm being held firmly in place by cross pin 22 as shown in FIG. 2. The contact arm 19 is a solid piece of conductive material having contact point 21 at its upper extremity and contact point 20 at its lower extremity. When the bar 11 is in its extreme right position the contact arm 19 joins the two terminals 23 and 24 which are located adjacent the right solenoid nals form a simple electrical loop which includes the left solenoid 17 and a battery 32 as shown in FIG. 4. Specif-' netically responsive section 13 of bar 11 toward the-ceriter of solenoid 17. Thisimmediately causesan interruption in the circuitas contact arm 19 starts to 'move toward the leftaway from terminals 23 and 24.1 Although solenoid 17 is only-momentarilyenergized, a sufiicient momentum is nevertheless given to bar 1110- carryiit left- .wardly into bridging engagement across terminals 33 and 34 which are located adjacent solenoid17. and which face the-area'between the two coils.

- Whenthe contact arm 19 reaches its leftmost'position it closes a second loop circuit through which battery 32 .energizesthe rightsolenoid 18. In this circuitthe current flows from the positive terminaliofibattery '32, through closedswitch 31 and electrical leads'27v and 26, to the terminal 34. With contact arm 19 bridging terminals 34 and 33,the current passes therethrough to electrical lead 36, the solenoid 18, andtoelectrical'lead which is connected to the negative end of the battery 32. In this manner the right solenoid-18 is energized momentarily and, in turn, draws magnetically responsive section 12 of bar 11 to a position toward the right.' Withjthe entire bar 11 moving away from terminals 33 and 34, the

circuit energizingthe right solenoid 18 is immediately broken. -As above, however, the momentum of the bar llfcarries' it to its extreme right position adjacent contact points 23. and 24 and the cyclc beginsanew.

A housing 39 surrounds and supports each of the sole noids 17and18. -Within each housingadjacent the center of the coil are at least two sets ofball bearings 35 which greatly reduce friction and allow the relatively free linear motion ofbar 11 through the'coils; A keyway or groove 37 is cu't'into the surface, of bar 11 as shown in FIGS.. 1'and'3- ,A guidingprojection 38 which is attachefd'fi'rmly .to the housing 39 moves within the keyway 37 as the bar 11 continuously. shuttlesback and forth through repeated,cycles.- The guide 38-assures the non-rotation of the bar '11 and thus gaurantees that the contact arm 19 will rer'nainin one position, alignedwith the terminals 23 and 24 and the terminals 33 and 34. I

A flux bar having end fianges46 with apertures 47 surrounds both coils as shown in FIGS. l and 2. The apertures 47 permit the free movement of bar 11 through the flux bar, while the end flanges 46 act asi flux plates and tend to concentrate the magnetic flux, thereby increasing the force acting on andmoving the .bar 11.

The electric motor discussed above has been incorporated in a pocket shaver shown in FIG. 5 which may be easily handled and carried, dueto its small, convenient size and which contains its own energy source thereby permitting its use at any location. The. shaver itself is shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 and is indicated generally by the character reference 50. The entire unit has a cover 49 and is contained within box shaped housing 51 which is divided into three compartments by'the inner supporting walls and 56. 52 contains the motor'section while the lowercomparb. mentl53 comprises the battery or energy section and the upper compartment 54 encompasses fthe blade section.

The housings 39 surrounding'solenoids 17 and 18 are fastened below removable inner supporting wall 56 at points 57. The entire electric motor, as described, .oc-.

cupies compartment 52 and is placed therein prior to the fastening of removable inner supporting wall 56in position. 'Actuating arms passthrough apertures 62in The middle compartment inner supporting wall56 and are pivoted therein at points 61. The arms 60 link pins -58'protruding from the extreme end portions 15 and 16 of bar 11 with a movable blade frame 63 in upper compartment 54. These pins 58 slide within slots 59 in the lower portionof actuating arms otlwhile the upper portion of the actuating arms pass through aperture 62 and are rnovably attached to blade frame 63 by spring clamps 64. The arrangement is such that when the bar11 is displaced to the right, the blade frame 63 is displaced to the left, as shown in FIG. 7. Similarly, when the bar 11 moves to 'theleft, theblade frame travels. to the right within the blade or upper compartment 54; 7 g p r Lower blades 65 are positioned on the upper surface of movable blade frame 63'with their sharpened edges being adjacent the sharpened edges of the upper stationary blades 67/ These upper stationary blades 67 are fastened firmly to stationaryblade frame 68 which, as shown in FIG. '8, surroundsmovable frame 63, and is itself locked to the upper part of housing 51. V The two ends of the blade or upper "compartment 54 are provided with pivotable wall sections 70 which allow access to the upper compartment 54 from either end. The walls 70 are'held in a closedpositionby springs 72 although either or both of these walls may be pivoted about points 71 and opened when it is necessary to clean upper compartment 54.. I I U Q The lower compartment 53 contains'thc switching elements 31 and a batterypower source 32"for energizing the electric motor; H Specifically the control switch 74 protrudes through aperture 73 in the side of housing 51. The switch 74 pivots'around axis 75 and is connected to cam surface 87. As shown in FIG. 7, the switch 74 isin the Off position and recess 83 on the upper part of calm surface 87 forcesthe lower end .82 of pivoting bar tothe extreme left. The pivoting bar 80 passes throughaperture 81 in wall 55 and has an upper endf84 which forces bar 11 to its extreme right position bridgingterminals 23 and 24. When switch 74 is moved upwardly recess, 83 in cam surface 87 moves to the right carrying lower end 82 of bar 80 with it. This proves upper end 84 of the bar to the left freeing bar 11. This arrangement assures that the cont-act arm 19 bridges the terminals 23 and 24 when the linkages composing main switch 31 are thrown on and the electric motor energized. Unless the contact arm 19 crosses either terminals 23 and 24orterminals 33 and 34 it would not be possible to start the electric motor. In addition the cam surface .87 has a notch 85 which receives suspended resilient.contactfelement 86. When the switch 74 is in. the Off position as showninFIG. 7, the suspended bar 86 issep'arated'from the suspended contact bar 88.. However, when the switch is moved to its upper position the protruding portion of the cam surface 87 moves bar 86 into contact with contact bar 88, thus effectingthe closure of switch 31fas shown in the circuit diaram in FIG."4.

The battery source 32is composed of two standard batteries and 92', shown positioned in lower compartment 53 and connected in series by contact bar 93. The positive terminal 89 or, battery 90 engages" contact bar 88 while the negative terminal of battery 92 contacts bar 95 which has-projecting piece 97 engaging electrical lead bar 96. The contact bar. 88,-and elements 93 and 95 are, of course, flexible and are positioned so as to easily receive and to maintain continuous contact with the batteries 90 and 92. p e The fastener-102 locks bar .95 and switch positioning bar 98in positionagainst housing .51. A' nob 99 located on the end' of positioningbar 98 isdesignedto engage either one of two recesses 100 and 101 which are formed in the lower portion surfacepof cam 87. Thus, when the switch 74 is in the Off position'nob99 will occupy groove 100 and when switch 74 is in the On position-nob 99 will occupy groove 101. Thisarrangementprevents the switch from occupying an intermediate position and assures that the switch will be either completely 011 or completely Off at any particular time.

A lower plate 105 closes the battery compartment 53 and is held in place by flange 106 and fastener 107. This plate 105 may be easily removed when it is necessary to change the batteries 90 or 92.

The electrical circuit shown in the pocket shaver is the same as the circuit schematically drawn in FIG. 4. When one loop of the circuit is energized and the contact arm 19 bridges terminals 23 and 24, conventional current flows from positive terminal 89 of battery 90 through suspended contact bars 88 and 86 and through electrical lead 25 to terminal 24. The contact arm 19 shunts the current across to terminal 23 from which it passes through electrical This is true even though switch 74 remains On and continues to force bar 86 into direct contact with bar 88.

When contact arm 19 reaches its leftmost position a second loop of the circuit is energized and current flows from positive terminal 89 of battery 90 through contact bars 88 and 86 and through electrical lead 26 to terminal 34.

Bar 19 shunts current to terminal 33 where it flows through electrical lead 36 to solenoid 13. The current then proceeds from the end of solenoid 18 through electrical lead 30 and bars 96 and 95 to the negative terminal of battery 92, thereby completing the second electrical circuit and energizing the right solenoid 18. Thus, as long as the electrical switch 74 remains in the On position the bar 11 will continue to move reciprocally back and forth within compartment 52 and the actuating arms 60 will continue to transmit this motion to the lower blade or upper holder 63 in the blade compartment 5'4.

The upper stationary blades 67 and the lower blades 65 are arranged so as to present a plurality of acute cutting angles with each cross sweep of the lower blades. As shown in detail in FIGS. 9 and 10, each blade is shaped in the form generally of a slanted triangle having a notched base formed by either cutting edges 117 and 118 or cutting edges 127 and 128. Both the row or" upper stationary blades and the row of lower blades are arranged so that the apex of one blade is surrounded on each side by one of the base points of one of the neighboring blades.

As shown in FIG. 10, lower blades 6st, 65v, 65x and 652 have their apex points attached along one side of lower blade frame 63, spaced by base points 12311 and 124w of blade 651:, by base points 123w and 124w of blade 65w and by base points 123 and 124 of blade 65y respectively. The other ends of the blades are attached to the opposite side of frame 63 in a similar manner with, for example, the apex points 122a of blade 65a and 122w of blade 65w spaced by the base points 124v and 123v.

The upper blades are likewise inverted with respect to 7 their neighboring blades; the apex 112w of blade 67w attaching to upper blade frame 68 at a point falling between the base point 1131 of blade 67v and base point 114x of blade 67x. Similarly the apex 112x of blade 67x is disposed between base points 114w and 113 The additional reference characters in FIG. show the same blade sequence for connecting the other upper blades to frame 68 and the other lower blades to movable frame 63.

Furthermore, the upper and lower blades are arranged so that the apex of one bisects the notch formed in the base of the other. For example, in FIG. 9, the apex 112 of the upper stationary blade 67 bisects the notch formed in the base of lower blade 65, falling generall between 6 the lower base points 123 and 124. Similarly the apex 122 of the lower blade 65 bisects the notch formed in the base of the upper stationary blade 67 and falls generally between the points 113 and 114 of the base of upper stationary blade 67.

When lower blade 65 is moving to the right across upper stationary 67 as shown in FIG. 9, cutting edge 116 of upper stationary blade 67 and 128 of blade 65 form an acute cutting angle ((1). Similarly, cutting edge 125 of lower blade 65 and cutting edge 117 of upper stationary blade 67 form an acute cutting angle (b). In addition to the above, as shown in FIG. 10, cutting edge 116w forms an acute cutting angle (f) with cutting edge 126v of lower blade 65v to the left of the lower blade 65w. Similarly, edge 125w of lower blade 65w makes an acute cutting angle (/1) with the edge 11x of the upper blade 67x to the right of the upper blade 67w.

As shown clearly in FIG. 9, when the lower blades are sweeping to the left, cutting edge 127 of lower blade 65 makes an acute cutting angle (c) with cutting edge of upper stationary blade 67. Similarly, cutting edge 116 of upper blade 67 makes an acute cutting angle (a) with cutting edge 126 of lower blade 65. In addition to the above, as shown in FIG. 10, the cutting edge 126w of lower blade 65w makes an acute cutting angle (i) with cutting edge 1161 of the upper blade 67v to the left of the upper blade 67w. At the same time cutting edge 115w of upper blade 67w makes an acute angle (e) with the cutting edge x of the lower blade 65x to the right of the lower blade 65w. Thus, with each sweep of the lower cutting blades to the left, acute cutting angles (c), (a), (i) and (e) are closed in a scissoring manner which will sever any hair caught therebetween. Similarly, when the lower cutting blades move to the right, acute cutting angles (1)), (d), (f) and (11) close on the hair protruding therebetween.

The upper blades, as shown in FIG. 9 have a pinnacle point 119 above their cutting surfaces. In each blade four smooth surfaces proceed from point 119 to the four cutting edges of each blade. Thus in blade 67 the upper surface is formed of a plane extending from point 119 to cutting edge 115, another plane extending from point 119 to cutting edge 117, a third plane from point 119 to cutting edge 118, and finally a fourth plane from point 119 to cutting edge 116. Formed in this particular manner the upper blade 67 provides a guard which protects the face of the user from injury by preventing portions of the skin from protruding between the cutting edges of the blades.

As has been explained above, it is this scissoring arrangement and cooperation between the blades 65 and 67 which provides a much smoother sliding method for severing hair than the present direct impact methods, where cutting edges meet each other at one instant along the entire edge of the cutting plane.

Many uses for the electric motor other than in combination with the pocket shaver are envisioned. For example, the electric motor may be used as the power source in vibration units. Also small portable hand saws, grinding equipment, and other tools which use a reciproeating linear motion represent areas wherein the electric motor may also be applied.

On the other hand, the individual design of the shaving blades are not to be limited to use in combination with the battery energized motor. These blades may have wide use in standard A.C. operated electric shavers or in many other devices where a plurality of scissor-type cutting edges are needed.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arangernent of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

notched base and'four cutting edges, said first and second blades positioned With their cutting edges adjacent and with the apex of said first blade intersecting the notch in the'base of saidsecond blade and the apex of said second blade intersecting the notch in the base of said first blade thereby forming four 7 acute cutting angles, and means for moving said blades across each other while maintaining the cutting edges of said first and second blades in adjacent relationship. v 2. A cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first notched triangular blade is slanted with respect to its base and said second notched triangular blade is slanted with'respect to its base, the'notch of said first blade being intersected by the apex of said second blade and the notch of said second blade being intersected by the apex of said first blade.

3. A cutting apparatus comprising 7 a a plurality of first triangular shaped blades wherein each blade has an apex, a notched base and four cutting edges and is fixed in an inverted position adjacent the sides of neighboring blades whereby the apex of one blade is placed adjacent the base of its neighboring blade and with at least one cutting edge of each blade in a spaced adjacent relationship with each of its neighboring blades, second plurality of triangular shaped blades wherein each blade has an apex, a notched base and four cutting edges and is fixed in an inverted position adjacent the sides of neighboring blades whereby the apex of one blade'is placed adjacent the base of its.

neighboring blade and with at least one cutting edge of each blade in a spaced'adjacent relationshi'p with one cutting edge of each of the neighboring blades, each of said second plurality of blades positioned with its cutting edges adjacent the cutting edges of one of said first blades with the apex of each of said first blades intersecting the notch in one of the bases ofsaidsecond blades and the apex of each of said second 'blades intersecting thenotch in one ofthe bases of said first blades, and V cans for moving said blades across each'other while i maintaining the cutting edges of said first blades and said second blades in adjacent relationship where- 50 by each of said plurality of first blades closes three acute cutting angles as it'moves in one direction and closes three different acute cutting angles as it said first and second blades positioned with a a first triangular shaped blade having an apex, a notched base, and four cutting edges, each of said edges lying in a single plane which defines one surface of the blade and away from which four separate plane surfaces rise, one from 'eachcutting edge, towards a'single point,

a second triangular shaped blade having an apex, a notched base andIfour cutting edges, each of said edges lying in a singleplane which defines one sur face of theiblade and away from which-four separateplane surf-acesrise, one from each cutting 'edge, toward a single'point,

their cutting edges adjacent and with theapex of said first blade intersecting the notch in the base of said 'second blade-and the apex of said second blade inters'ecting the notch inrthe base of said first blade thereby forming fouracute cutting angles, and

means for moving said blades across each other while maintaining the cutting edges of said firstand second blades in adjacent relationship. 4

References Cited by the-Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,120,414 12/14 Schoolfield'et al. 310-35 1,205,576 11/16, Stearns et ial. 30'-43.92 1,421,350 6/22 Powell 1 310-35 1,568,210 1/26 Col stad 7 1,668,278 5/28 Lan'gdon 310 23 1,851,850- 3/32 Lamar '310 35 2,121,895 6/38 ,Toward et a1. 310--35 2,164,425 77/39 Rand 30-431 2,201,349 5/40 Scruggs -1 3041.6 2,253,737 8/41 Testi 30 43.1 2,272,123 7 2 42 Te Paset a1; 30 43.2 2,273,685 2/42 Berg 30 43.92 2,281,434 4/42 Gur Arye 30- 4392 2,558,459 6/51' Podner 56-296 X 32,601,720" 7/52 Carissimi' 30- 4392 2,617,951 11/52 ,Jefi'frey 310-35 2,636,267 -4/53 Wittcomb 30 '355 2,749,453 6/56 Cassell et al., 317- 171 X 2,930,119 3/60 Kleinman 1, 30-4392 3,002,276 10/ 1 Kobler 30-354 X 7 FOREIGN :PATENTS 154,140 11/20 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. I v MYRON c. KRUSE, Examiner. i 

1. A CUTTING APPARATUS COMPRISING A FIRST TRIANGULAR SHAPED BLADE HAVING AN APEX, A NOTCHED BASE AND FOUR CUTTING EDGES, A SECOND TRIANGULAR SHAPED BLADE HAVING AN APEX, A NOTCHED BASE AND FOUR CUTTING EDGES, SAID FIRST AND SECOND BLADES POSITIONED WITH THEIR CUTTING EDGES ADJACENT WITH THE APEX OF SAID FIRST BLADE INTERSECTING THE NOTCH IN THE BASE OF SAID SECOND BLADE AND THE APEX OF SAID SECOND BLADE INTERSECTING THE NOTCH IN THE BASE OF SAID FIRST BLADE THEREBY FORMING FOUR ACUTE CUTTING ANGLES, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID BLADES ACROSS EACH OTHER WHILE MAINTAINING THE CUTTING EDGES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND BLADES IN ADJACENT RELATIONSHIP. 